#LiveBoldly Day 16: A Catalyst + Bacon Ranch Chicken Chili

I hope you guys have time to listen to my rambling little vlog up there, but in case you can’t here are the basics:

• A little over a year ago I was approached by a MASSIVE company to do some work with them on a year-long project that would have paid at least double what I was making at my last job in addition to some major exposure on their social media outlets.
• I had to “audition” for the part but was made to believe that I was a shoo-in and was the top prospect for this position.
• I created the content and felt incredibly happy with the work that I sent in; additionally the company said that I had gone far above and beyond their expectations for the audition.
• I was contacted by the company a few days later with some concern that I was too outspoken about my beliefs and could offend some of their consumers.
• A few days later I was told that another blogger got the job.

Now please hear this: I am certainly not trying to sit here and whine about this. I firmly believe that God has very specific reasons for the doors that he chooses to open and close for us. I can’t say that I wasn’t bummed out at the time, but since then have had that knowledge affirmed again and again many times over.

 

I think that the most important thing is that I realized this: as a believer in Christ and because of my deeply growing and personal relationship with Him I can’t hide him from the work that I do. I’m incredibly lucky to work for myself and have the freedom to share what I feel and think when I feel and think it; it is truly a blessing.

 

When I spoke with this company about their concerns I made it known that I understood their standpoint, that the work I would do for them would not mention my faith, but that I can’t hide whose I am. I could do the work for them without mentioning my relationship with Christ, but that on my personal blog I would continue to talk about it when I felt led to.

 

Sometimes I sit back and wonder what doors would be opened to me if I didn’t mention God’s name or his call on my life. I wonder how much money I could make, how many awesome deals I could get, how many companies would bend over backwards to get their name up here. Sometimes I think that it would probably look really cool from a “stuff” standpoint, you know? What girl wouldn’t love a nice paycheck, cool clothes or brand new things?

 

Then I think about what expense those things would come at. I can’t hide whose I am any more than God can stop being God. I won’t. And while that may mean some missed opportunities, it makes the ones that do come along just that much sweeter – knowing that the Lord has placed them in my path for a reason, for a purpose, and that those are the jobs that I will work my tail off to be successful at. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me 😉

 

Now that I’ve shared all that, how about some chili? I was a little hesitant at first to call this chili because honestly it’s more of a soup that has chili powder in it. Regardless, it is delicious and a lot of it has to do with the fact that I like to use some pretty stellar bacon all up in there. And seeing as how it’s all rainy and wonderfully dreary here I think a great bowl of soup is just the thing. Y’all enjoy!

BACON RANCH CHICKEN CHILI

• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 6 slices Petit Jean Meats bacon, chopped
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 tablespoons Ranch dressing seasoning
• salt and pepper to taste

In a large soup pot render the bacon til crisp over medium heat. Once the bacon is crisped, remove it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings. Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the chicken and cook until just done, then add the chili powder, Ranch dressing and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 20-25 minutes. Serve hot with the rendered bacon on top!